An Ex-Wife's Last Wish (Chapter 2)

Since it was their 5th anniversary, Mavis reserved a table for their dinner date in the favorite restaurant of her husband. She also ordered the wine that Lansford often drinks to make sure that he would at least enjoy the food even if she was not Venice.

Wearing a red slitted dress that fell down to her ankle, she was more than ready to meet with him. Just like usual, she was the very first one to show up. She did not mind waiting for Lansford since she enjoyed the night view of the city from the tall building she was in.

“Madam, would you like to take your order now?” a waitress asked.

Mavis hesitated to reply but after a few seconds of silence.

“I'll take my order after an hour, please,” she replied.

The waitress flashed her a small smile before taking her leave and her co-workers gave her a small shake of the head. No staff in that expensive restaurant who did not know who Mavis Lionheart Briar. She and her husband had been one of their loyal customers but seeing the set-up of their relationship, they could only feel sad for them. Most especially when they see Mavis all dressed up and is always on time for their date but Lansford would fail to show up.

Mavis, on the other hand, kept repeating to herself that Lansford was probably busy at work. She looked at her phone and was tempted to call him but fear was once again taking over her. It was because most of the times that he called him, it was Venice who answered the call. And there was even one time that she heard them doing it so she had become hesitant to dial his number.

Biting her lower lip, she took a deep sigh and grabbed her phone. This was already their last anniversary so she should go all out in order not to regret anything in the future.

Dialing his number, she slowly lifted her phone to hear ear. For the next few seconds, only the ringing of her phone was all she could hear. Shifting her gaze outside the glass window, she wished so hard that the person who would answer the call was Lansford. Even if he stands her up that night as long as he would answer the phone himself, it would be fine for her.

She was preparing herself on what was going to happen next but before she could even do so, her call was answered. She straightened her back in no time and beamed with delight.

“Lansford, I thought you were not going to answer. Anyway, I am here in Night's View Rest–”

She almost choked on her own words when she heard the annoying giggle whom only one person could manage to do—Venice.

On the other side of the line, Venice was wearing her robes and her hair was wrapped with a towel. With Lansford's phone on one hand, she rested her other hand on the armrest before puffing out the smoke from her mouth.

“You really don't learn, do you, Mavis Lionheart Briar?” she asked, reiterating her sister's name as if it was a poison in her mouth. “You once heard us doing it but it seemed it is not yet enough. Lansford's in the shower and if you wanna watch us do it, you can drop by here in Golden Laurel Hotel.”

Mavis' confidence and motivation were immediately shattered in seconds. She did not spit another word and simply ended the call.

“I give up,” she muttered to herself and let out a heavy sigh. She grabbed her purse and left some money on the table before making her way to the elevator.

For some reason, she managed not to shed a single tear as if her tear ducts grew tired of her shedding a bucket of tears every anniversary. Mavis also wished that her heart should have gone numb because the pain she was feeling right at that moment was simply indescribable. This was their last anniversary and yet Lansford did not consider celebrating it.

When the elevator doors opened, Mavis immediately changed her expression into a confident look. She strutted her way out of the building and drove back home. Shutting the door behind her, the deafening silence dawn on her again. She never got used to it.

The very first thing that Mavis did was to head to the kitchen and grab a new bottle of wine before deciding to go to their room. She might as well drown herself again in alcohol and recall the little memories she had that Lansford had ever been good to her. That was she had been doing ever since their vert first anniversary and it was still the same until their last.

Humming a song to herself, she held the doorknob and used her body to push the door open. She was about to take another step forward but the very next thing she saw froze her in place.

Her chest felt like it was being squeezed tight as her feet grew heavy that running away seemed impossible. Seeing Venice on top of Lansford all naked and sweaty right on the bed she shared with Lansford for five years, Mavis was beyond surprised and hurt and disappointed.

She dropped the bottle of wine and it caught the attention of the two people making love.

Her eyes locked with Venice who was never shameful enough to even cover herself.

She flashed a smirk at her and said, “Oh, you really came to watch.”

Mavis seemed to have lost her ability to speak so she remained quiet as she slowly took a few steps backward and shut the door closed. Her hands trembled as she covered her mouth where her first sob escaped from. One step at a time, she walked away from that place and when her feet no longer felt heavy, she ran out even though she had no idea where to go. She simply told herself to get away from that place.

Running to the gates, thunders and lightnings crossed the skies which was already covered by dark clouds. For sure, it would be going to rain and if Mavis stays out there and gets soaked wet, it'd definitely be bad news for her. But turning around and going back to the mansion would suffocate and kill her all the same.

But before she could even step out from the gates, she was grabbed by the arm and was forced to turn around.

Lifting her gaze, Lansford gazed back at her.

“Mavis.” That was all he could manage to say.

The moment her first tear fell, the rain poured down on them. It was as if the weather felt her pain and was being empathetic.

“Lansford, I didn't complain before, right?” she cried. “I know you have been fucking my sister but I did not say anything because I know that between the two of us, you will always choose her.”

Lansford couldn't say a thing because it was true. But seeing her like this somehow made him feel a bit guilty. He reached out to her and pulled her into a hug.

“She always had your heart for years, Lansford. All your time, your attention, all of them was hers. But what about me? That room... that bed where we sleep on together was all the territory I have but... but why did you have to do it there.”

She wanted to speak more but her sobs took over her.

“Lansford.” It was Venice and she was making a pained expression.

Seeing that she was on the verge of crying, Lansford did not hesitate to let go of his wife and ran to her side. He knew that she was a sickly person ever since they were young so letting her get soaked was not a good idea. Without turning around to see Mavis, the two of them left her alone under the pouring rain.

Since Mavis no longer felt that she even had the right to return to the mansion, she chose to leave. She returned to the mansion where she and Venice grew up.

“Mavis, look at you. Why are you in such a mess? Go and get changed!” Mrs. Lionheart said upon seeing the state of her adopted daughter.

She already had an idea what might have caused her to be in such a state but she chose not to act on it. She simply brought dry towels for her and helped her fix her old room where she can stay for the night.

“Another fight?” Mrs. Lionheart asked.

Mavis simply shook her head.

“It's just a hard day, mother.”

Mavis knew too well that telling her the truth would do nothing. As their adopted daughter, she had always been second to Venice and no matter how much she wanted to get mad at them, she couldn't. Giving her mother a peck on the forehead, she was left all alone in her room.

For the nth time, she was once again crying for the same reason. It seemed that even if she were to ask for a day from her husband, he would still not agree as long as Venice was there.

“Sign the contract.”

Those three words were all she could think of until she fell asleep that night.